Slovakia - Birds of the Mountains & Plains

Over the past couple of decades, birdwatchers have slowly awoken to the natural history delights of Eastern Europe. Today, countries such as Bulgaria, Poland, Romania and Hungary are well established destinations on the European birding circuit and familiar to many of us who travel the world in search of wildlife. For reasons unknown, however, the Republic of Slovakia has not enjoyed a similar surge in ornithological interest. This is odd, for this small landlocked country, which sits at the very heart of Europe, is every bit as exciting for birds as its larger neighbours. For example, Slovakia is home to all of Europe’s nine species of woodpecker (plus Wryneck) with over 1,000 pairs of each! Ural, Pygmy and Tengmalm’s Owls are more readily seen here than anywhere outside Scandinavia, whilst Eastern Imperial Eagle, Saker Falcon, Wallcreeper, Citrine Wagtail and River Warbler make up just a small part of an impressive supporting avian cast. Slovakia can also boast some of the most varied scenery on the continent, from the towering peaks of the Tatra Mountains to the rolling tree-less plains of the east. It is therefore only a matter of time before Slovakia will take its rightful place as one of Europe’s finest wildlife destinations and, with that in mind, we are pleased to offer this exciting itinerary which takes in the very best of the country’s birdlife and scenery.

Our holiday begins with a flight to Krakow, in southern Poland, where we will meet our local guide and then drive south for two hours to the Slovakian town of Orava, tucked away in the foothills of the Tatra Mountains. Orava will be our base for the first two nights of this tour whilst we explore the region’s open grasslands, woodlands and peat bogs. Lesser Spotted Eagles are frequently seen soaring overhead and nest here in good numbers, as do Black Storks. We will also explore the shores of the Orava Reservoir one morning, where Citrine Wagtails now breed, and later we will make our first attempt to locate the beautiful Ural Owl.

Next, we will move our base to the historic town of Liptov for two nights, from where we will explore the forests and meadows of the Velka Fatra Mountains and Chocske Hills, looking for woodpeckers and owls in particular. All nine species of woodpecker breed here, including Black, Three-toed, White-backed and Grey-headed Woodpeckers. We will also look for Slovakia’s largest owl, the Eagle Owl, and its smallest, the diurnal Pygmy Owl, and perhaps find a Tengmalm’s Owl measuring somewhere in between. The mixed Beech and spruce forests that clothe the slopes of the mountains are also home to Collared and Red-breasted Flycatchers, Wood Warbler and Common Redstart, whilst a whirr of wings may signal the escape of a secretive Hazel Grouse, and overhead a Golden Eagle, Goshawk or Honey Buzzard may drift past.

Moving on, we leave the mountains behind and head east into the Slovakian lowlands which are the northern extension of the Great Hungarian Plain. Our drive will take us through the dramatic scenery of the High Tatra Mountains and we will break the journey east with a stop at the spectacular 12th century Spissky Castle. As the mountains fade away and the landscape opens out, we will start to see our first open country birds such as Red-backed and Lesser Grey Shrikes, Bee-eater and Montagu’s Harrier. For our final three nights of the tour we will be based in a comfortable hotel close to the Zemplinska Sirava Reservoir where pre-breakfast walks will be enlivened by a chorus of Nightingales, plus Icterine Warbler, Hoopoe and Wryneck. W

e will explore the open plains, mixed woodlands and wetlands of eastern Slovakia over the following two days in search of such species as Eastern Imperial Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Saker Falcon, Rock Bunting, Tawny Pipit, and Barred, Grasshopper and River Warblers. We will have another opportunity to look for woodpeckers, and also Ural Owl which our guides will make a particular effort to find here. Finally, we will explore the complex of marshes and old fish-ponds close to the town of Sienne. This is one of Slovakia’s finest wetlands and attracts numerous breeding and migrant birds. The extensive reedbeds and adjacent pools hold Purple Heron, Penduline Tit, Red-necked Grebe and various ‘reed warblers’, whilst all three marsh terns (Black, Whiskered and the beautiful White-winged Tern) hawk for insects overhead.

Our tour ends in the attractive Hungarian capital, Budapest, where you might like to spend a couple of extra days enjoying its cultural and historical highlights before finally returning home.